Shih-Ci Ou

Profile

I am a communication designer and PGR at the School of Design. My academic background spans graphic design, illustration, motion design, and service design, with a particular focus on how emerging technologies intersect with creative practice.

Before my doctoral studies, I developed a multidisciplinary design practice across various media and platforms, which has informed my research-oriented approach to understanding design processes and outcomes. As a multilingual creative practitioner fluent in English, Taiwanese, Mandarin and Japanese, I bring a cross-cultural perspective to my work, enabling me to engage with diverse design traditions and international research communities.

My current research examines the integration of artificial intelligence in graphic and visual design, exploring questions around creative authorship, design methodology, and the evolving role of designers in an AI-augmented landscape. I am committed to bridging practice-based insights with theoretical inquiry, and I look forward to engaging in academic exchanges that advance our understanding of technology's impact on creative disciplines.

Research interests

My current research investigates the relationship between AI technologies and graphic design practice, with a particular focus on AI-generated imagery and its implications for brand identity and visual communication.

Key areas of inquiry include:

• The integration of AI image generation in brand design processes
• Comparative analysis of AI design tools and their capabilities in producing accessible and effective visual outcomes
• The theoretical frameworks underlying AI-assisted creative work
• Ethical and professional implications of AI adoption in the creative industries

I am interested in understanding what AI does well and what it cannot yet achieve in design contexts, and how these capabilities might inform future design education and professional practice.

Qualifications

• MA Communication Design
• BSc Digital Content & Technologies
• BA Public Finance